1745 Treasure Captured at Lima. Silver. 36.2 millimeters. 15.5 grams. Betts-381, Eimer-594. About Uncirculated.;Perhaps the finest silver example of the type offered in recent years, this lovely example exhibits only slight friction on the highest elements of the design. Free of significant surface or edge impairments, this piece also exhibits delicate golden toning to the obverse boasts that further enhances already strong eye appeal. Under magnification the surfaces show myriad tiny short "marks" which appear to be fiber remnants from a cleaning cloth embedded in, and on, a thin coating of lacquer. Until a few generations ago lacquering of coins and, especially, medals was not an uncommon practice for even advanced collectors. This lacquer, should the new owner desire, can usually be removed with relative ease using any number of solvents.<p>One of the more dramatic and appealing of the Betts medals, this piece celebrates the British capture of three Spanish galleons off the coast of Peru which between them carried some $4,000,000 in silver and gold. This treasure, once transported to England, quickly became the source for the metal in the popular "LIMA" issues of English coins in 1745 and 1746. These coins, in denominations from the gold 5 guinea to the lowly silver sixpence carried the word LIMA boldly inscribed below the bust of the Sovereign as a reminder to the users of these coins of the British victory.<p>Medals of this type are rarely encountered in either copper or silver, the present example representing what is certainly the more desirable of the two formats. This is the first public auction offering of this piece.;Ex Royal United Services Museum collection; the collection of the Glenbow Museum in Calgary, Alberta, recently deaccessed.